Sailing: Sir Ben Ainslie pays tribute to Olympic team-mate Andrew Simpson
Four-time Olympic champion Sir Ben Ainslie has paid tribute to team-mate Andrew Simpson, who died on Thursday.
Last Updated: 11/05/13 12:25pm
Simpson died after being trapped under his AC72 catamaran when it nosedived, capsized and broke into pieces in San Francisco Bay.
The 36-year-old recently turned his attention to the America's Cup - a trophy he admitted before London 2012 was his biggest goal - and he had been working as a strategist for Swedish team Artemis Racing in a bid to achieve his dream.
Ainslie is also involved in the America's Cup as helmsman for the defending champions Oracle Team USA, and he released a statement about his friend on Friday night on his official website.
He said: "This is such a tragedy.
"Andrew was such a wonderful husband, father, friend and one of the nicest people you would ever meet.
"The only solace I can find is that he died doing something which he loved.
"I have such fond memories of growing up sailing together as kids and then as
adults. I will miss him so much.
"My thoughts and prayers are with Leah, their two boys and their family."